Glen Jackson seals stunning Saracens win

Number up: an isolated Alun Wyn-Jones stands no chance as Saracens close in on an unexpected win

By Mick Cleary

12:01AM BST 07 Apr 2008

Saracens 19 Ospreys 10

They were still reeling round Watford late into the night, dazed but delirious. They had come in their thousands to Vicarage Road to produce the first sell-out at the stadium for a rugby match. But even the diehards must have had a tinge of fear in their souls after the 30-3 walloping Neath-Swansea Ospreys had dished out to their side only a fortnight ago.

But heart and endeavour, cleverness and opportunism, grit and gumption can still take you a long way in this game, even against a side containing 12 of the Wales Grand Slam squad. Ospreys had the stars on the teamsheet; Saracens had the stars on the field.

The crowd rose to salute the squinty dropped goal from fly-half Glen Jackson as it wobbled its way to glory, confirming victory two minutes from time, as if were a thing of beauty. In the eyes of the beholders, it was.

Saracens are into uncharted territory, chasing silverware for the first time in 10 years. Their steadfast benefactor Nigel Wray flew in from the Caribbean just for the match. The journey looks to have been worth it in all senses.

Given what odds Saracens overturned yesterday in downing the pride of Wales, even those hard-bitten European campaigners Munster will be wary. Saracens head coach Alan Gaffney will come up against some old mates, given that he was in charge for three years at the Irish province.

Saracens played with urgency and desire from first to last, and from rear to loosehead prop. The tight scrummage drained the energy from their opposite numbers while wing Richard Haughton, switched to full-back after early injuries, was defiant in defence and irrepressible in attack. They had the whip hand at the breakdown, winning ball and stemming attacks.

"The boys told each other not to leave anything out there, not to look your mate in the eye afterwards and think you could have done better," Gaffney said.

There were many fine figures in black: lock Kris Chesney, a Saracens stalwart, flankers Paul Gustard and Richard Hill, all playing with venom and canniness. Tighthead Cobus Visagie was colossal.

Saracens gave Ospreys no room to move. Hugh Vyvyan was bubbly and belligerent in equal measure, while Kevin Sorrell sealed the midfield.

True, Ospreys did commit a few bloopers, on three separate occasions dropping balls that might have yielded scores. Yet you can attribute those jitters to Saracens pressure. They rattled them in body and in mind.

Saracens, fitful of late, played not just with desire but accuracy as well. They might have had even more on the scoreboard, the television match official turning down tries from Gustard on the stroke of half-time and Vyvyan, a far more credible shout, shortly into the second half.

Saracens believed in each other and in the cause. They rode their luck on occasions, notably for the morale-boosting try from Francisco Leonelli just after the half-time break. Half-backs Neil de Kock and Jackson got themselves in a pickle trying to clear from defence, only for De Kock's kick to be touched in flight by a diving Osprey, Lee Byrne. The ball fell upfield to Adam Powell, who did not bother wondering about his good luck and fed Leonelli, who thundered past Ryan Jones to the try-line.

The defeat will cut Ospreys to the quick; they really did fancy their chances. But they were looking too far down the road. They did not turn up, fly-half James Hook, in particular, drifting and even showboating in trying to catch the ball behind his back.

They had a late tilt at redemption, prop Paul James finishing off a concerted attack with a burrowing try. Hook's conversion closed the gap to six points. But again, Saracens' nerve held. They worked the field, made the yards, backed each other in tackle and ruck, and finally gave Jackson his chance. He didn't flunk it. In stark contrast, Ospreys did.

"We were scratching our heads at times," captain Ryan Jones said.

Saracens have a casualty toll to contend with. Andy Farrell has a ruptured shoulder joint and won't play again this season; Brent Russell is a doubt for that Heineken Cup semi-final after straining a hamstring; Gustard (shoulder) and Leonelli (dead leg and dislocated finger) are also on the treatment table. That news was the only dampener on a night of serious celebration.

Talking point

Richard Hill is 35 next month. He’s had two career-threatening cruciate injuries in recent years. Yet he was at his best yesterday, being named man of the match. “All the heartache and pain is worth it for days like this,“ said Hill who walks with a limp after extensive surgey. “He was phenomenal,” said coach Alan Gaffney.